Here’s How To Uninstall Avast Antivirus From Your Laptop Or Smartphone

Follow this simplified guide to uninstall the antivirus software.

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There are quite a few reasons why you might have installed Avast Antivirus in the past. First and foremost, the antivirus software is free to download and comes with bonus features such as a privacy-focused browser. However, this doesn’t mean you would want to keep it forever.

Whether you are getting rid of background programs or upgrading to a better security solution, everyone has their reason to uninstall Avast Antivirus. For those who hardly venture away from trusted websites, this layer of security might not be that necessary. Therefore, such users might also want to uninstall Avast Antivirus and the avast secure browser.

If you want to jettison the antivirus and free up system resources, here is a guide to help you out. Follow the step-by-step instructions here to easily uninstall Avast Antivirus from your desktop/laptop or mobile.

avast free antivirus laptop and mobile

How To Uninstall Avast Antivirus?

There are two ways you can go about this. You can either uninstall the antivirus manually or use the Avast Uninstall Utility. Here are both of these methods.

Manual Uninstallation

  1. Select the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar, type “Add or remove programs,” and click on the same in the results.
add or remove programs search bar

2. Find and select “Avast Free Antivirus” from the program list, click on “Uninstall,” and then confirm your choice.

uninstall using apps & features

3. When the Avast Uninstaller loads, click on “Uninstall.” Click on “Yes” to confirm the decision.

avast uninstaller

4. Once the uninstallation finishes, select either “Restart computer” or “Restart later” to finish the process.

avast antivirus uninstallation restart

Use Avast Uninstall Utility

  1. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility from the official website.
  2. Right-click on the file, select “Run as administrator,” and confirm.
  3. When the Avast Antivirus Clear window pops up, choose “Yes” to restart your computer in Safe Mode.
  4. Once the system reboots and the Avast window opens, select “Uninstall.”
  5. Click on “Restart computer” or “Restart later” to finish the uninstallation process.

Can’t Uninstall Avast Due To “Setup Is Already Running” Issue?

If, while trying to uninstall Avast Antivirus, you’re getting “Setup Is Already Running. Please try to start the setup later.” notification, then you need to disable Self-Defense mode. This mode is known to prevent you from removing the antivirus program at times. Here’s how to move forward with this:

  1. Open the antivirus app, click on “Menu” at the top-right.
antivirus main screen

2. Click on “Settings.”

Settings

3. In the Settings, click on “General,” then click on “Troubleshooting.”

avast general settings

3. Uncheck “Enable Self-Defense” and confirm when prompted.

How To Uninstall Avast Mobile Security?

Avast Mobile Security is the official Avast product for Android and iOS mobile devices. While the steps for removing the app are similar to those for removing any other, Android users who have given administrator-level privileges to the app will need to follow the steps mentioned below.

  1. Open the Avast Antivirus app and tap on the hamburger icon in the top-left corner.
  2. From the navigation pane, select “Settings.”
  3. Tap on “Uninstall app” and use your PIN/fingerprint to access this screen.
  4. Tap on the “Turn off device administrator first” toggle.
  5. Press the “Uninstall App” button at the bottom.
  6. On the app settings screen, select “Uninstall” and confirm when prompted.

FAQs

Is Avast malware?

Quite the contrary, Avast provides a free antivirus program that helps you catch and prevent risks, including malware and other malicious software. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linus, Android, and iOS.

What happens if I uninstall Avast?

If you uninstall Avast, you will lose the protection it offers against viruses. However, at the same time, you could also free up the resources taken by the avast antivirus, which would likely make your system run smoother.

How do I completely remove Avast?

Although manual uninstallation usually does the job, Avast suggests using the Avast Uninstaller Utility to uninstall its software from the system completely.

Priye Rai

Priye Rai

Priye is a tech writer who writes about anything remotely related to tech, including gaming, smartphones, social media, etc. He prefers to be called a "video game journalist" and grimaces when he doesn't get to be "Player 1." If you want to share feedback or talk about games, reach out to @priyeakapj on Twitter.
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